Air operated instrument



Patented Nov. 10,. 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Robert L. Mallory, Houston, Tex., assignor to The Brown Instrument Company, Philadelphia, Pa., .a corporation of Pennsylvania Application October 7, 1939, Serial No. 298,419

7 (c1. rev-439) My present invention comprises improvements in fluid pressure control apparatus operating to create a control fluid pressure force which is impressed on a fluid pressure control motor or analogous control actuating element and which varies in accordance with changes in a control condition, such for example, as a temperature, a pressure, a height of liquid level, or a velocity, the,

controlling condition usually, though not necessarily, being returned to, or-toward a normal value on a departure therefrom, by the operation of said motor or analogous device.

A main object of the present invention is to provide certain specific improvements in fluid pressure controlling apparatus of the type comprising means whereby a departure in the value of a controlling condition from a predetermined or normal value thereof, varies an air or other elastic fluid pressure control force, and whereby such initial variation in the control force produces a second control force adjustment quickly eliminating more or less of the initial change in thecontrol pressure, and produces a subsequent third control force adjustment by which the effect of the second adjustment isneutralized at a rate suitably retarded to insure the regulation or control stability necessary to avoid hunting. Said second and third adjustments are sometimes referred to as follow-up and compensating adjustments, respectively, and the third adjustment is also sometimes referred to as an automatic resetting adjustment.

In such control apparatus, the extent to which theinitial control pressure adjustment is neutralized by the second adjustment, and the rate at which the third adjustment neutralizes the effect of the second adjustment, should be capable of egulation or calibration to enable the apparatus to give desirable results under varying conditions of operation.

Another main object of the present invention is to provide an air control instrument by which the above mentioned movements are accomplished in a simple manner by the use of an absolute minimum of parts. In my invention a single bellows that is subjected to variations in air pressure on its opposite sides as a result of'a change embodiment; and

understanding of the invention, however, its advantages, and specific objects attained with its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing and descriptive matter in which I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view, partly in section, showing one embodiment of my invention;

Fig; 2 is a view, partly in section of a second Fig. '3 is a view of an embodiment having another arrangement of the control nozzle.

Referring to the drawingthere is shown by way of example, a furnace l whose temperature is to be controlled. The temperature of the furnace is to be varied by regulating the heating fluid therefor which is supplied through a pipe 3 having a valve 4 in it. The valve is closed by means of the pressure of a spring 5 and is opened varying amounts in response to pressure applied to the h .per surface of a diaphragm 6.

Inserted in the furnace is a temperature responsive bulb I that is filled with a fluid that expands upon an increase in temperature to cause the expansion of a Bourdon tube 8 to which it is connected by a capillary 9. The Bourdon tube 8 is of helical form and has its stationary endattached to the capillary 9, while its'movable end is attached to and adapted to move a lever l0 clckwise around a pivot II in response to the lever l0 gives motion to a flapper valve I2,

in the value of the condition being measured and I.

which as shown, forms part of a control pressure regilator, or air control unit It, and regulates the escape of air therefrom, and thereby regulates the control air pressure in a regulator chamber I4, The latter receives air through a pipe I5 and a restriction 16. The pressure in the chamber I4 is transmitted through the pipe l5 to the control chamber of a booster valve l1.

Booster valve H is supplied with air under regulated pressure from pipe l8 to a controlled pressure chamber i9. Pivoted within the chamber IB' and attached to a diaphragm 20, forming one wall of the control chamber, is a valve 2i that moves between the air entrance of pipe I and an exhaust duct 22. Diaphragm 20 is subjected to opposing pressures, namely that in chamber M and that in chamber I9 to move the valve2-l between the inlet and exhaust openings ing a part of this specification. For a better to thereby maintain the pressure in chamber l9 2 1 proportional to that in chamber ll. A pipe II connects the chamber is to the control valve 4.

All of the above mentioned parts except the furnace I, valve 4 and bulb I, are advantageously combined in a control instrument which 'may well be a recording meter similar in form to a commercial type meter used for recording temperatures and pressures. Such a meter may include a casing, chart plate, chart, and chart driving motor together with a hinged door, which for sake oi clearness, are not shown herein. v

The meter recording pen 28 is mounted on the lower end of an arm 2!, pivoted at 28, and connected by a link 21 to the lever N for movement thereby in accordance with temperature changes in the furnace. An arm 28, extending from the pen arm 25, is connected by a link ing from One arm of a bell-crank lever 84 which has its other arm pivotally connected to the center or lever 38. The bell crank 34 is supported tor movement at 38 around the lower end of a lever 38 that, along with the flapper is pivoted at 8|.

The unit It comprises a cup-shaped casin member 31 that is closed by a head 38. Proiecting from the head is a nozzle I! which communicates with the chamber l4 and is variably throttled by the flapper valve l2. Within the casing 31 and attached to the head 88 is an extensible bellows 48 that has a rod 4! attached at. one end to its head; the other end of the rod being pivotally connected to the member '38. The head 89 is provided with an opening through which the rod 88 extends, this opening being. in effect, closed to form a second chamber 4! by another and smaller sealing bellows 82. The sealing means for chamber 4| is conveniently shown as the small bellows 42, but may, if desired, take the form of a limp diaphragm or an ordinary stufl'lng box. The bellows I2 is attached to the rod 80 so that the two bellows 48 and I! move together as the bellows 88 is expanded or contracted due to pressure changes in thechamber ll. The chambers 14 and 4| are connected by a'duct 43 in which is located a variable restriction 44 that may be adjusted to change the rate at which pressures in chamhers I8 and 4| may equalize.

'In the operation of the device, assuming an increase in the temperature of the furnace above its normal value, the Bourdon tube 8 will be expanded to move lever I8 clockwise and, through link 21, movethe pen 24 outwardly along the chart (not shown). This movement will cause the lever 88 to be moved clockwise around its right end to lift the left end oi bell-crank 34 and move that lever clockwise so that pin 33 rwill raise the flapp r I! from the nozzle :9,

against the bias or spring 48. This movement of the flapper will permit more air to escape from the chamber l4, lowering the pressure in that chamber and on diaphragm 28. As a result of the decreasein pressure on 28 the valve member II will close the inlet to chamber l8 and open the exhaust port 22 and reduce the pressure in that chamber and line 23. A consequent pressure reduction will occur on diaphragm 0 so that the spring I will close the valve an amount proportional to the temperature increase in the furnace. The second or follow-up movement oi. the instrument that is produced as a result of the initial temperature change results from and is practically contemporaneous with the pressure reduction in chamber H. Due to the pressure reduction in chamber I l the bellows 48 expands simultaneously shifting rod 48 to the right. As the rod 48 moves the member 38 is also shifted to the right so that bell-crank 34 and pin 33 will let the flapper return toward its initial position, thus tending to neutralize the original pressure change. The net eilect oi the initial and iollow-up adjustments following any particular departure of the pen from its normal position is a corresponding definite change in th control pressure and a corresponding definite position for the valve 4.

In order to compensate for the temperature increase to bring the value of the iumace temperature back to the control point, the instrument, as a result of its second movement, is given its third or compensating movement. As the bellows 48 expands due to a decrease in pressure in the chamber H the volume of chamber 4| will increase and decrease the pressure in that chamber. This pressure change in the chamber 4|, however, is so small as to be negligible, so that the pressure in that chamber is still considerably abov the reduced pressm'e inchamber It. The air in chamber 4| therefor starts to pass through the duct 48, at a rate controlled by the adjustment of restriction 48, into the chamber H. As this continues pressures in the chambers II and It are equalized and the bellows 88 returns approximately to its normal length moving the flapper away from the nozzle or toward-its original position, again re-- ducing the pressure hi chamber ll. Bellows 88 at the termination of the compensating action.

will be displaced from its initial position by an amount depending upon the amount of air which is transferred from chamber ll to chamber l8 during the interval that the bulb l was above its normal value. This is in turn dep ndent upon the original pressure change in chamber I 4 and the relative areas of bellows l8 and 42. Thus the amount of unremoved iollow-up-or the displacement between the position of lever 38 at the end of the follow-up movement and the end of the compensating movement may be varied by varying the area of bellows 42. The less the area 01 bellows 42 the smaller the unremoved follow-up will be. At this time, assuming that the decreased pressure in chamber II has caused sumcient closing of valve 4, that the temperature has returned to its normal value, equilibrium of the apparatus with the bellows 48 and 42 at the pressure in that chamber at the commencement of the operations just described.

Provision is made to change the control point of the instrument, or the normal value or the temperature in the furnace l by altering the original position of the flapper l2 relative to the nozzle 38. This is accomplished by adlusting the right end of the lever 38 that is supported by a link 10 from one arm ll oi an index member 12 that is also pivoted at 28. The index member is adapted to extend down in front of the chart to indicate thereon the value at which the instrument is set to maintain. In order to adjust the index 12 there is provided a knob 13 having a crank arm'll thereon which is connected to the upper end of the index by a links". When the knob 13 is rotated the index Fig. 2 is essentially the same as-that of Fig. 1.

but differs therefrom in certain constructional details whose purpose will be set forth below. In the form of the invention of Fig. 1 the natural resiliency of the bellows I! was used to return those'bellows to their normal length dur- 'ing the compensating movement as the pressures in chambers II and il equalized. At times it is desirable to use some auxiliary force to return the bellows to their normal length. To

this end the head to thafcloses the bell shaped casing inFig. 2 is formed with an'inwardly extending cup-shaped portion II having an opening through its bottom wall. Fastened to the bottom wall of the part Si is one end of a bellows member 52 whose other end is attached to a plate Ill that has an opening therethrough. The open end of a bellows M is attached to the other face of the plate I! while the closed end of the bellows is held in a given position by its attachment to a U-shaped member 5! that straddles the bellows and is attached to the face of head 50. Because of the openings in plate It and the bottom wall of the portion ii. the interior of bellows i2 and I are in communication with the interior of bellows 40 to form a chamber 56 corresponding to the chamber ll of Fig. 1.

Located within the bellows t2 and tending to force that bellows toward a longer length by means of its engagement with portion II and plate 83 is a spring '1. In a like manner a spring 58 is located in the bellows II to abut against plate ti and oppose the spring 51. Be cause of the springs 51 and 58 the plate It is at all times resiliently biased toward a 'given position.

The connection between the bellows 40 and member 38 whereby movements of. that bellows may move the flapper valve l2 comprises a rod 59 that is attached to the bellows and the plate 81. portion 5i and the spring '1. A yoke member Cll surrounds the bellows and is attached to the plate 53 for movement therewith. The movement of yoke 80 is transferred to member 3! by means of a rod II.

The operation of this embodiment of the in- This rod passes through the opening in vention is essentially the same as that above described in connection with Fig. 1. Upon movement of the flapper it away from nozzle to more air can escape therefrom to reduce the pressure in space It and cause an expansion of the bellows 48. Such expansion will shift bellcrank 34 to the right by means of the connections including rod I9, plate I, yoke Oil and rod II, and at the same time will compress the spring 51. Upon a contraction of the bellows 4| the spring 58 would have been compressed In either event the force of v by the plate 53. one of the springs 81 or 50 is added to the natural resiliency'of the bellows 48 in returning that bellows to its normal length as the compensatsprings l1 and ll the etiect of the relative areas of the bellows ll and II is somewhat removed as the tendency for l! to return to its normal length is more pronounced. In this embodiment. also, the speed of compensation is regulated by the adjustment oi the restriction M. which adjustment should bear a relation to the time lag of the process being controlled. In other words it may be said that. ordinarily the time required for effecting the automatic resetting or compensating adjustment should increase or decrease in accordance with the rate at which change in the controlled process or operation occur.

In the above described embodiments of the invention the nozzle 30 has been shown in communication with the chamber II. This is not necessary and another manner in which pressure in chamber I may be adjusted is shown 'in' Fig. 3. In that figure the nozzle 39A issupplied directly with air from the line it that also communicates with the diaphragm 20. Thus changes in pressure as a result oimovement of flapper l2 relative to the nozzle "A only serve to move the valve member II to adjust the pressure in chamber Ii. Aspressure changes in chamber II are applied to the control valve diaphragm through line 23, this same pressure is applied to the chamber l4 throng a line a connecting with line It.

The mechanism located in casing 31 in this figure may take the form of either Fig. 1 or Big. 2. In either case the-operation is the same as above described for that embodiment.

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes, I have illustrated and described the best form of embodiment of my invention now known to me. it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the form of the apparatus disclosed without departing from the spiritof my invention as set forth in the appended claims and that in some cases certain features of my invention may be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is:

i. In an air control instrument the combination of a cup shaped casing. a bellows extending into the same to form a chamber therein, a second bellows forming with the first bellows and casing a second chamber. a re"tricted passageway between said chambers, a supply of air and an exhaust nozzle for said first chamber. a napper valve for said nozzle. means responsive to the variations in the value of a condition to adjust said valve relative to said nozzle to thereby vary the pressure in said chamber, and means extending through the second bellows and attached to said ilrst bellows operative upon movement of said first bellows in response to a pressure change in the first chamber to readjust the valve in a reverse direction.

2. In an air control instrument, the combina tion or a cup-shaped casing. a bellows extending into said casing and attached at its open endto the open end of said casing to form between the two an expansibie chamber, a second bellows fastened at its open end to the open end of said casing and in opposed relation to said ilrst bellows to form a second expansible chamber therebetween, a rod extending thorugh the end of said second bellows and rigidly connected to ing movement takes place. By the use of the the ends of each bellows, a restricted connection between said two chambers, a supply of pressure fluid for said first chamber, an exhaust nozzle for said first chamber, a valve cooperating with said nozzle to regualte the flow oi pressure fluid therethrough, and means jointly actuated by variations in the value of a variable condition and by said rod to move said valve relative to said nozzle.

3. In an air control instrument a cup-shaped casing open at one end, a bellows extending into said casing and attached to the same at said end to form between the casing andv bellows an expansible chamber varying in size as the pressure in said chamber changes, a second bellows also attached to said casing at said endand forming with the casing and first bellows a second expansible chamber, a rigid connection between said two bellows and extending beyond the second one, a restricted connection between said two chambers whereby a pressure change in one is slowly communicated to the other, a'

source or fluid under pressure communicating with said first chamber, a bleed nozzle for the first chamber, a valve adapted 'to regulate the bleed through said nozzle, means to adjust said valve in response to variations in the value of a variable condition to thereby change the pressure in said first chamber andthe length of said bellows and means operated by said rigid connection to give a reverse movement to said valve.

4. In an air control instrument, the combination of a casing, a bellows extending into the same to form therewith an expansible chamber, a second bellows cooperating with said casing and first bellows to form a second expansible chamber, a variably restricted connection between said chambers, a source or pressure fiuid for said first chamber, an exhaust nozzle for the first chamber, a valve for said nozzle to variably .restrict the flow therethrough and thereby vary the pressure in said first chamber and the length of said bellows, means operative upon variations in a variable condition to move said valve relative to said nozzle to change the-pressure in the first chamber, and means rigidly connected to both bellows to move said valve in a reverse direction in response to said pressure change.

5. An air control system comprising a closed casingprovided with a movable wall therein dividing the same into .a plurality of chambers whose size varies in accordance with the position of said wall, a controlled'valve mechanism, a connection between said valve and one of said chambers whereby the pressure in the two is the same, a supply of air under regulated pressure for the controlled valve mechanism and said one chamber, an exhaust port in said one chamber, an exhaust valve tor said port, means to Jointly move said exhaust valve comprising a part moved to a position proportional to the value 01' a condition and a part connected to said movable wall whereby upon movement or either part the a pressure in said one chamber and said controlled valve mechanism will be-varied, a restricted connection between said two chambers and means tending at all times to move said movable wall to a given normal position.

. 6. An air control system comprising a controlled valve' mechanism, and a control unit having a closed casing and a movable wall therein forming a pair of chambers, means including a restriction for supplying air simultaneously to said controlled valve mechanism and one of said chambers, a supply 01' air passing through said restriction, an exhaust valve regulating the exhaust or air from said controlled valve mechanism and said one.chamber and thereforethe pressure in them,'means including means attached to and actuated by said movable wall and means movable in accordance with the value of a condition for positioning said exhaust valve to cause the controlled valve mechanism and said movable wall to assume positions corresponding to the valueoi the condition, and means including a restriction i'orequalizing the pressure on opposite sides of the movable wall to cause the controlled valve mechanism to be additionally positioned with respect to the value of the condition. a

7. Anair control system comprising a controlled valve mechanism and a control unit having a closed casing and a movable wall therein forming a pair of chambers variable in size. means including a restrictionthrough which air is simultaneouslysupplied to said control valve "mechanism and one of said chambers, a supply of air passing through said restriction, an exhaust port forsaid chamber and controlled valve mechanism, an exhaust valve regulating the flow oi air-through said port, means operated in response tovariations in the value of a variable condition to adiust said valve and thereby change the pressure in said one chamber and controlled valve mechanism, whereby said movable wall will be shifted, a mechanical connection between said movable wall and exhaust valve operative upon movement of said wall to move said exhaust valve, a restricted connection between said two chambers and meansat all times tending to move said movable wall to a normal position upon its displacement therefrom.

ROBERT L. MALLORY.' 

